Murkowski endorsed by Alaskan Native American group

Alaska’s oldest civil rights organization has picked Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who is running as a write-in candidate following her ouster in Alaska’s GOP primary, as the best person to represent their state in the Senate come 2010.

The Juneau Empire’s Pat Forgey reported Thursday that the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand Camps voted to support Sen. Murkowski’s write-in-campaign in November’s election. The organization convened in Saxman, a village near Ketchikan, and hosted a celebration after Sen. Murkowski’s endorsement was revealed. Murkowski will challenge candidates Scott McAdams, a Democrat, and Joe Miller, the Republican attorney who edged past Murkowski in the August primary.

The ANB and ANS include members of the Tlingit and Haida tribes. They are also Sen. Murkowski’s two latest endorsements by Native American groups – she has previous endorsements from Alaskans Standing Together and the Alaska Federation of Natives. ANF co-chairman Albert Kookesh attended the announcement of Sen. Murkowski’s write-in campaign.

ANB treasurer Brad Fluetsch said his group supported Sen. Murkowski given her stances on Native American issues like affordable energy, hunting traditions, and health services for Alaska’s native Americans. Endorsements by groups such as these are vital for Murkowski, given Alaskan Native Americans have historically supported Democrats like Mr. McAdams.